Wag. Zazie Todd
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Serpell et al. (2017), Bradshaw (2011)14
Puppies are typically adopted at 8 weeks old. Because those early weeks are important for socialization, you should research where your puppy has come from. Puppies that spent this period in a puppy mill or in a barn instead of a house, and then in a cage in a pet store, will have missed opportunities to be socialized (or potentially even had damaging experiences). Ideally, your puppy will come from a home (or a foster home, if a shelter puppy) where good socialization practices have been followed for the best possible start in life.
Pet stores and problem behaviors
Researchers use the puppy from a pet store as a proxy for the puppy coming from a commercial breeder. Studies show that puppies bought from pet stores are more likely to have behavior problems than those acquired directly from a responsible breeder. In one study, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs from pet stores were more likely than dogs obtained from private breeders to be aggressive to their owner, to strangers, to other dogs, and to other dogs that live in the same house. Pet-store dogs were also more likely to have house-training issues and separation-related problems and to be sensitive to being touched.15 Of course, there may also be differences between people who get their puppy from a pet store and people who obtain their puppy from a breeder (as well as in the information they are given).
A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior took some of these owner-related factors into account and still found that 21 percent of the puppies from pet stores showed aggression towards their owner compared with 10 percent of those obtained from breeders.16 Furthermore, this study found that puppies from pet stores had more issues with soiling the house, separation-related issues, and body licking; these particular problems were more common amongst owners who didn’t attend dog training classes, took their dog only for short walks, and punished their dog on returning home. So there is an interplay between where the dog comes from and how the owner treats the dog.
While conditions in commercial breeding establishments vary, some are dire (and that’s probably an understatement). Take a look at the ASPCA web pages on puppy mills to get an idea. Missing crucial socialization opportunities during the sensitive period is one reason for behavior problems later on, according to a report in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.17 Other reasons are genetic factors (e.g., breeding from animals that are already fearful of people); epigenetic changes due to stress (e.g., the mother being stressed during pregnancy); the puppy being weaned and separated from mom and the rest of the litter at too young an age; the stresses of being transported to the pet store, or being subjected to a restrictive home and/or pet store environment; and a lack of information being given to new owners on how to care for their puppy compared with if they had visited a breeder or shelter.
The only way to be sure your dog has been raised in a good environment is to see that environment. A study published in the Veterinary Record found that when people did not see either the puppy’s mom or dad prior to getting a puppy, the dog was 3.8 times more likely to have been referred for a behavior problem as an adult; if only the mother was seen, the dog was still 2.5 times more likely to have been referred.18
If getting a puppy, make sure you see them with the mom (and be suspicious if the seller suggests meeting at a “convenient” location like a parking lot). Research any health checks recommended for that breed and ask about them. A good breeder—or a good shelter or rescue—will know about the importance of socialization and will be raising puppies in a home environment where they are becoming habituated to the sounds and activities in a normal household, so ask about socialization.
The power of more socialization
A study from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in the UK looked at the effects of puppies getting an extra socialization program on top of the existing (already excellent) one.19 Six litters of puppies took part, all Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, or Lab-Golden crosses. Between birth and 6 weeks of age, all of the puppies received the standard socialization program, and half of each litter also received the additional program. To make sure it wasn’t just time with people that was making a difference, the puppies receiving only the standard program had someone sit with them for the same time as the new program took and interact with them if the puppies engaged with the person.
The new—additional—socialization program took just five minutes per puppy per day in the first week, rising to fifteen minutes per puppy per day in the fifth and sixth weeks. Taking account of what is known about the development of puppies and using resources that are readily available, the program included having a cell phone ring near the puppy; stroking the dog with fingers, with a towel, and with a hand in a rubber glove; and examining the puppy’s ears and teeth. The new program had puppies experience these things on their own, away from the nest and their fellow puppies, as compared with the standard program in which puppies were socialized together. This may have helped the puppies become more resilient to separation-related issues.
The results were striking. At the end of the 6 weeks, there were already differences between the two groups of puppies. But the really important differences were seen in questionnaires completed by each puppy’s handler when the dog was 8 months old. Puppies that had received the new program were less likely to have general anxiety, get distracted, have separation-related behaviors, or have body sensitivity (handling issues). These things matter a lot to guide-dog handlers, but they are also beneficial to all dog owners. These results show that extra socialization during those early weeks makes a difference to the behavior of the puppy as it grows up into a young dog.
The socialization period gives you crucial weeks at home in which to ensure your puppy has many different positive experiences. If your puppy is shy—and many are—take special care that they aren’t overwhelmed. You can use play or food to try and turn situations into a positive experience (more on this in chapter 3). Give your puppy choices, encourage them to interact, but don’t force it if they don’t want to. Even if your puppy is shy, giving them a choice will let them come out on their own when they are ready—and that’s exactly when the experience will be good for them.
Many humane societies and SPCAs have guidelines on how to choose a puppy, so it is worth looking online to find a guide from an organization you like. Some of them, like the RSPCA in the UK, also make a contract available that can be used when buying a puppy. Amongst other things, the contract will include something about what happens to the puppy if things don’t work out; a good breeder or rescue will take the puppy back. Putting the time in to do your research now will help you find the right pet for you and ensure that your puppy had a good start in life.
ALL ABOUT RESCUES AND RETIREES
WHEN WE FIRST adopted Ghost, I was surprised that some people reacted very negatively to the fact he came from a shelter, even though right there in front of them was a stunningly beautiful—and well-behaved—dog. One man even told me that for sure Ghost would bite me. (Just so you know, he never did!) Aside from how rude these people were, they also were wrong: a shelter dog can be a good choice.
Research shows one of the things that often motivates people to choose a rescue dog is to save a life; not only do you give the dog you’re adopting a new home, but you make space in the shelter or rescue for another at-risk or abandoned dog to wait for a new home.
I asked Dr. Sam Gaines of the RSPCA what advice she would give to people who are adopting a dog. She told me about the RSPCA’s pre-adoption booklet, which includes information about what to do during the dog’s first few weeks, including the importance of setting ground rules and having everyone in the house be consistent. At the same time, she says, people should pay attention to what they are told about the specific dog they are adopting.
Gaines said, “Put aside any preconceived ideas about the dog and how it looks, and I guess to a certain extent what breed it might be. Put that aside and instead think about who’s the individual dog that you’ve just adopted.” She added that it’s important to work with the information you’ve been given. For example, “‘This is what we’ve observed